IE84344B1 - An air cushioned support system - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT AN AIR CUSHIONED SUPPORT SYSTEM An air cushioned support system for use in supporting the human body, the support system comprising an airtight cushion being divided into a plurality of compartments with means being provided to allow air communication between the compartments. One or more of the compartments are supporting zones and the other compartment or compartments are a reservoir or reservoirs for air. (Figure 1)

Description

AN AIR CUSHIONED SUPPORT SYSTEM The present invention relates to an air cushioned support system for use in the support of the human body during transport, at work or in any situation where periods of sitting arc necessitated.

Sitting for long periods of time immobile in uncomfortable seats, for example in aircraft and other fonns of transport, can prove detrimental to the health of such passengers.

Manufacturers of airline, coach, train, automotive and office seating face a major design problem of catering for the many variations of human bodies who will eventually occupy the seats for long periods of time. The high degree of occlusion to the passengcr’s critical veins by the seat eushion’s front edge is now regarded as a major factor in increasing the risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) which may even result in the death of passengers.

The risk is increased by the broad anthropometric range of the seat cushion design and the tendency to increase the stiffness of the foams in the seats to comply with crash safety regulations. This problem is typically addressed by providing seat cushions made of foam composites, foam with internal springs and moulded foam. All have failed to reduce pressure points in the seat and have not prevented potential health risks like DVT and many of these cushions are extremely uncomfortable.

Furthermore, the use of a slimline lightweight single compartment air cushion with foam core could easily bottom out under the weight of the seated passenger thereby failing to achieve the desired objective. The compressed air balloons out the surface area of the cushion not in contact with the seated passenger or the unloaded areas so that the seated passenger’s tubcrosites, the skeletal bones in the centre of the buttocks make contact with the hard surface under the cushion and are therefore not protected in the foam/air environment. Clearly this system does not solve the problem of reducing pressure points and increasing comfort.

The present invention seeks to overcome the above described disadvantages of the prior art seat.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an air cushioned support system for use in supporting the human body, the support system comprising an airtight cushion being divided into a plurality of internal compartments with means being provided to allow air communication between the compartments, one or more of the compartments being supporting zones and the other compartments being reservoirs for air, wherein the cushion includes central supporting compartments providing the supporting zones and the reservoir compartments being arranged longitudinally along opposed sides of the central supporting compartments, the interior of each central compartment being connected to an adjoining side bolster compartment or reservoir so that air may be displaced into the side bolster compartments from the central supporting compartments by the action of a person sitting on the central supporting compartments until equilibrium is reached, and wherein the cushion comprises an air impervious material bonded to a composite foam core to form an airtight sandwich type cushion.

Ideally, air flow ducts are provided to enable displacement of air between each central compartment and its adjoining side bolster compartment in a controlled airflow configuration.

Preferably, the cushion comprises four central compartments with four corresponding bolster compartments, two rear compartments for supporting the buttocks and two front compartments for supporting the thighs.

Ideally, a plurality of valves are provided in ports of the cushion central compartments to enable inflation and deflation of said compartments of the cushion.

Advantageously, the support system is designed so that air is displaced into side bolster compartments of the cushion from the central compartments as someone sits on the cushion, until equilibrium is reached. The support system ensures that an air cushion is always present under the sitting person and bottoming out does not occur.

Two embodiments of an air cushioned support system will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an isometric view of a first embodiment ofthe air cushioned support system of the present invention; Figure 2 is an isometric section view of the air cushioned support system of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan and side section view of the embodiment of Figure I with no load including an indication of the position of a seated passenger; Figure 4 is a plan and side section View of the embodiment of Figure I under load; Figure 5 is a side section view of the embodiment of Figure l in the unloaded and loaded positions; Figure 6 is a plan and side section view of a second embodiment of the air cushioned support system of the present invention; Figure 7a is a side view of passengers seated on prior art cushions; and Figure 7b is a side view of passengers seated on the cushioned support system of Figure 6.

As shown in F igurcs l and 2, the air cushioned support system comprises a cushion 1 including two central compartments 2, 3. Each central compartment 2, 3 is bordered by a side bolster compartment 4, 5. The interior of each central compartment 2, 3 is connected to an adjoining side bolster compartment 4, 5 by ducts so that air contained in the interior of central compartments 2, 3 may pass into side bolster compartments 4, 5 when under load, for example when a person sits on the cushion I. Valves 8, 9 are provided in ports towards the comers of central compartments 2, 3. These valves 8, 9 allow for the inflation and deflation of the compartments 2, 3, 4, 5, of the cushion l to facilitate use in an aircraft environment or to enable compact folding and storage and also for carriage and use. It will of course be appreciated that cushion I can be provided without valves when the cushion I is used for any purpose other than as an aircrafi seat cushion.

The cushion 1 is formed by bonding two sheets of air impervious material 10, 11 to a composite foam core 12 to form an air tight sandwich type cushion 1. Central compartments 2, 3 are separated from each other and from adjoining side bolster compartments 4, 5 by sealed boundary lines 13. Furthermore central compartments 2, 3 are bordered along outside edges of the cushion 1 by periphery sealed boundary lines 14.

Referring now to Figure 3, the plan view of which shows the position of a passenger 15 in the seated position on the cushion l. Valves 8, 9 are towards the corner of the cushion 1 towards the front of the cushion I from the perspective of the seated passenger 15. This is to allow for the deflation of the front end of the cushion I directly under the thighs close to the back knees of the seated passenger and allows the seated passenger 15 have convenient access to activate the valves 8, 9 by pressing a button. The side section view of Figure 1 shows the cushion 1 under no load with the side bolster compartments 4, 5, deflated.

Figure 4 shows a plan and side View of the cushion under load. As a passenger l5 sits on the cushion 1 air is displaced fi'om the central compartments 2, 3 through duets 6, 7 and into the side bolster compartments 4, 5 so that the side bolster compartments 4, 5 inflate under load. Air continues to displace through ducts 6, 7 until equilibrium is reached where the air in the central compartments 2, 3 of the cushion 1 supports the weight of the passenger 15. Advantageously the effect of the dissipation of the air within the cushion 1 serves to model the external surface of the cushion l in contact with the passenger 15 on the shape of the passenger’s 15 anatomy.

Figure 5 shows side section views of the cushion l in unloaded and loaded positions. As shown, the side bolster compartments 4, 5 are deflated in the unloaded positions but are inflated in the loaded position due to the weight of the passenger 15 on the central compartments 2, 3 of the cushion l. Conveniently as illustrated in the loaded position, the cushion 1 is designed so that it does not bottom out, i.e. when the passenger 15 is seated on the cushion 1 and the dissipation of air from the central compartments 2, 3 into the side bolster compartments 4, 5 has stopped as the cushion 1 has come to equilibrium, the passenger I5 is always supported by air wi thin the central compartments 2, 3 regardless of the passenger’s 15 weight. There is no case where the passenger is not supported by air within the central compartments 2, 3. The elastic nature of the air in the cushion 1 also provides shock absorbance for a person sitting on the cushion l.

Figure 6 shows a plan and side section view of a cushion I of a second embodiment of the invention. Conveniently there are four central compartments 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b with four corresponding bolster compartments 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b connected via four ducts 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b.

Valves 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b are provided in ports one for each central compartment 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b as shown. Valves 8a, 9a are situated towards the front corners of central compartments 2a, 3a and valves 8b, 9b are situated towards the rear corners of central compartments 2b, 3b. The provision of four central compartments 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b enables the seated passenger l5 a higher degree of control of the shape and support of the cushion 1 with the rear compartments 2b, 3b supporting the buttocks and the front compartments '23, 3a supporting the thighs. Rear compartments 2b, 3b contain foam having a vertical height in an unloaded state in the range of 20 mm to 30mm, and front compartments 2a, 3a contain foam having a vertical height in an unloaded state in a range of 15 mm to 23mm. Ideally, rear compartments 2b, 31) contain foam having a vertical height in an unloaded state of 25 mm, and front compartments 2a, 3a contain foam having a vertical height in an unloaded state of 18 mm. It will of course be appreciated that the cushion 1 with four central compartments 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b may be provided without any valves when the cushion l is used for any purpose other than as an aircraft seat cushion.

Figure 7a shows a side view of passengers l5 seated using prior art cushions. As shown, the feet of a passenger 15 of short lower leg stature are off the floor giving rise to high pressure points caused by the front edge of the seat cushion on the underside of the thighs of the passenger.

Figure 7b shows a side view of passengers l5 seated using the cushion l of the present invention. As shown the feet of a passenger of short lower leg stature are resting on the aircraft floor as the cushion nose or front central compartments 2a, 3a have been deflated.

This serves to remove the pressure points caused by the front edge of the seat cushion of the prior art.

Advantageously the use of the air cushioned support system of the present invention overcomes the problem of the broad anthropometric range of the seat cushion design by automatically modelling the cushion to the shape of the passenger sitting on it.

Furthermore the weight of the passenger is spread more evenly across the seat as the sitting passenger’s body is in greater surface area contact with the cushion.

Furthermore the cushion of the present invention is ultra thin lightweight, durable and highly portable. The cushions may be personalised by giving each seated passenger more control over their health and comfort by delivering lower pressure points and more’ consistent comfort and support than prior art cushions many times the weight and bulk.

The elasticity of the air fluid medium in the cushion of the present invention gives an excellent cradling and cushioning effect around the sitting passenger’s buttocks and thighs and gives the overall sensation of excellent sitting comfort with very low pressure points.

Separate buttock and thigh seating zones of a second embodiment of the invention enable enhanced control of the cushion, for example the ability to deflate the front end or nose of the cushion to reduce pressure points at the front end of the cushion providing an unusually high level of cradling comfort and support with excellent posture stability.

A further application of the present invention is in the lie flat mode of for example an aircraft seat whereby the seat may become a bed by extending back into a 180 degree position. The air cushioned support system may be used to relieve the hip bone pressure points caused by a passenger lying on their side on a seat in lie flat mode to ensure the passenger may sleep comfortably.

It will be apparent that many alterations and variations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example further combinations of compartments may be utilised aswcll as those described in the two embodiments herein. The valves may be positioned in different configurations than described herein. For example the valves may not be positioned towards the comers of the compartments as indicated but may be positioned at any location in the compartments in which the air cushioned support System is capable of operating effectively. It may be preferable to provide several valves in each compartment. Additionally, the cushion can be provided without any valves when the cushion is used for any purpose other than as an aircraft seat cushion.

Additional side bolster compartments may be provided at the rear of the cushion aswell as at the sides as described herein.

Advantageously because of its ultralight weight and compactness, the air cushioned support system of the present invention may be used as a seat cushion topper in commercial transport seat cushion upholstery. In particular, with the arrival of new ultra- longhaul (Airbus A340-500/600‘ series and Boeing B777 series) and very large jumbo aircrafl (A380), the air cushioned support system of the present invention offers substantial potential weight savings in the design of new ultralight aircrafi seats.

Conveniently, the air cushioned support system may be used by private individuals to carry their own mobile seat cushion to ensure comfortable and safe seating in any situation.

Accordingly the present invention is not limited to commercial transport applications.

Suitable materials for constructing the cushion of the air cushioned support system will be apparent to the skilled person including an air impervious material bonded to and surrounding a composite foam core. For example, the air impervious material can be provided by a taffeta fabric and a polyurethane sheet laminate.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein, which are given by way of example only, and that various modifications and alterations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (1)

1. CLAIMS: An air cushioned support system for use in supporting the human body, the support system comprising an airtight cushion being divided into a plurality of internal compartments with means being provided to allow air communication between the compartments, one or more of the compartments being supporting zones and the other compartments being reservoirs for air, wherein the cushion includes central supporting compartments providing the supporting zones and the reservoir compartments being arranged longitudinally along opposed sides of the central supporting compartments, the interior of each central compartment being connected to an adjoining side bolster compartment or reservoir so that air may be displaced into the side bolster compartments from the central supporting compartments by the action of a person sitting on the central supporting compartments until equilibrium is reached, and wherein the cushion comprises an air impervious material bonded to a composite foam core to fonn an airtight sandwich type cushion. An air cushioned support system as claimed in claim 1, wherein air flow ducts are provided to enable displacement of air between each central compartment and its adjoining side bolster compartment in a controlled airflow configuration. An air cushioned support system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cushion comprises four central compartments with four corresponding bolster compartments, the four central compartments including two rear central compartments for supporting the buttocks and two front central compartments for supporting the thighs. An air cushioned support system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the rear compartments contain foam having a vertical height in an unloaded state in the range of about 20 mm to about 30mm and the front compartments contain foam having a vertical height in an unloaded state in a range of about 15 mm to about 23m. An air cushioned suppon system as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the rear compartments contain foam having 3 vertical height in an unloaded state of 25 mm. and the front companments contain foam having a vertical height in an unloaded state of 18 mm. An air cushioned support system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality of valves are provided in ports of the cushion central compartments to enable inflation and deflation of said compartments of the cushion. An air cushioned support system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein sidc bolster compartments are provided at the rear of the cushion as well as at the sides. An air cushioned system substantially in accordance with either of the embodiments herein described with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings. MACLACHLAN & DONALDSON, Applicants‘ Agents,